Cape Town – A wildfire in Somerset West spread to surrounding farms including Bezweni, Knorhoek, Wedderwill and Vergelegen on Tuesday.
The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Department dispatched 12 fire engines and 10 water tankers with more than 120 firefighters assisted by Working on Fire firefighters and Cape Nature to try and extinguish the flames.
Spokesperson Theo Layne said the City responded to a fire on the upper slopes of the mountain above Bezweni Lodge, Somerset West. Layne said the strong south-easterly wind and steep terrain presented a challenge for firefighters.
Water-bombing with the assistance of a helicopter was deployed to manage the flames, but by the time of going to print the fire had not been contained. The cause of the fire had not yet been determined.
Layne appealed to the public to donate refreshments, both solids and liquids, to the Strand Fire Department, where the management team would ensure that they were distributed to the fire crews who are trying to control the intense fire.
“A Fire and Rescue Service logistics officer will ensure that the refreshments are distributed.”
He said the fire was spreading rapidly, to the extent that the firefighters continued working overnight on Tuesnesday, and would continue their work into Thursday.
There is also a possibility that they will still be fighting the fire tomorrow.
“The firefighters are working tirelessly,” he said.
Meanwhile, City director for Safety and Security Richard Bosman said a fire in the Bo-Kaap area had been contained on Tuesday afternoon.